Container and closure therefor



`une 29, 1937. E. JACOB CONTAINER AND cLosURE THEREFOR Filed April 6, 1935 ATTORNEY Patented .lune 29, 1937 UNTTED STATES PATENT orricr.

CONTAINER AND CLOSURE THEREFOR Eugene Jacob, Trenton, N. J.

Application April 6, 1935,' Serial No. 15,046

Claims.

My invention relates to bottles and receptacles and to closures therefor. In particular my invention relates to constructions which render it impossible to remove the closure without mu- 5 tilating the same whereby an indication is given that the receptacle has been opened.

Constructions are known wherein the closure or the container or both are so formed that the closure must be broken in order that the contents may be removed. However, such devices are usually either complicated and expensive or are constructed so that the closure is completely destroyed when removed and it therefore cannot thereafter be used to preserve the contents of l5 the receptacle.

In accordance with my invention these difculties and disadvantages of the prior art are overcome and simple and inexpensive closures and containers are provided wherein the closure is mutilated upon removal -but is not destroyed. With this construction the closure can be used in the usual manner to perserve the contents of the container but cannot be reused without giving evidence that the container has been opened.

One of the objects of my invention is to pro- .vide container and closure constructions which prevent the removal of the closure without mutilation thereof while the closure retains its usefulness for preserving the contents of the container.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive form of container and closure of the type which cannot be opened without mutilating the closure.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel type of closure and retaining means therefor.

These and other objects and features of my invention will appear from the followingdescription thereof in which reference is made to the accompanying figures of the drawing illustrating typical constructions embodying my invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of a form of bottle and closure with a portion of the closure broken away n to disclose the invention more clearly.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the neck of the container illustrated in Fig. 1 with retaining means in place thereon.

' Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view similar to Fig. 2 with the closure in place.

Fig. 4 is a View similar toV Fig. 3 illustrating the manner in which the closure is mutilated.

Y 4 Figs. A5 and 6 are sectional views similar toFigs.

3 and 4 respectively of another alternative form of construction embodying my invention, and

Fig. '7 is a perspective of a further alternative form of container and closure embodying my invention.

In that form of my invention chosen for purposes of illustration in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawing I have shown a bottle or other receptacle 2 having a neck provided with a thread 6 for receiving and retaining a closure for the container. Below the thread 6 a collar I0 is provided which has a recess I2 therein formed at one end with an abutment I4 and on the opposite end with a sloping portion I6 of gradually decreasing depth.

Within the recess I2 is located a locking member I8 which preferably is formed of spring metal or similar material and extends more than half way around the neck so as to retain itself within the recess by the resiliency thereof. This construction of the locking member is simple and inexpensive to produce and employ and may be applied when shipping the empty containers or before filling the same so that the closure may thereafter be applied, by machine or otherwise in the usual manner without presenting any difficulty because of the presence of the locking member.

The locking member is formed on that end thereof adjacent the abutment I4 with a projection 20 which as shown in Fig. 2 normally 4projects outwardly from the recess beyond the surface of the collar ID. However, as shown in Fig. 3 the end of the locking member is flexed inwardly into a depression 22 when the cover 8 is in place and during the application thereof so that it does not interfere with the operation of applying the closure. The opposite end of the locking member I2 terminates short of the sloping portion I6 of the recess and normally lies below the outer surface of the collar I0.

The upper portion 22 of the closure 8 is formed with an internal thread and may be reinforced by projections 2li or the like or may be made of suitable thickness to resist breaking thereof.V 45 That portion of the closure which extends downwardly about the collar I0 serves as a skirt 26 which covers and conceals the recess I2 and the locking member I8 therein when the closure is seated. Theskirt 26 preferably is formed in- 50 tegral with or secured to the upper portion of the closure by a weakened portion 28. Strengthening projections 30 may also be spaced at intervals about the periphery of the skirt to insure `breaking thereof at the weakened portion 28..

CAD

same.

The strengthening projections also serve to prevent breaking away of the entire skirt in a way which while changing the appearance of the closure would leave a neat appearing closure that might not apprise the purchaser that the closure had been previously removed.

In using the construction described the closure is applied by rotation thereof in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 3 whereby the threads on the closure and container engage and the skirt 26 is moved downwardly to cover the recess I2 and locking member I8 to conceal the The closure rotates freely in a clockwise direction due to the fact that the projecting portion 20 of the locking member faces in the direction of rotation of the adjacent innerrsurface of the skirt and is therefore flexed inwardly into the depression 22. Furthermore since the projecting portion 2i] is adjacent the abutment I4 at the end of the recess I2 the locking member cannot be carried with the closure in applying the same. v

When the closure is removed by rotation thereofV in a counter-clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 3 the projecting portion 2i) of the locking-member which tends to move outwardly engages the inner surface of the skirt 26 and either imbeds-itself in the closure or frictionally engages the same so that the lockingmember is moved with the closure in a counter-clockwise direction. The opposite end of thelocking member then slides upwardly along the inclined surface of the recess I2 and is wedged into the space between the skirt 26 and the collar Ill. Further rotation of the closure in a counterclockwise direction is therefore resisted. However on forcible rotation of the closure to remove the same the locking member is moved with the closure into the position shown in Fig. 4. When so moved the skirt is expanded and since it is secured to the upper portion of the closure by the weakened portion 28 it is broken away below the thread. Furthermore the reenforcements 3D cause the skirt itself to be broken. The closure is thus mutilated without destroying or injuring the upper portion thereof. The closure may thereafter be applied and removed as desired so that the contents of the container may be preserved by the use of the same-closure but the closure` cannot again be used without giving evidence of the fact that the container has previously been opened. It will thus be apparent that the construction provided is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and employ and .at the same time serves to prevent reuse Vof the Y wise direction as seen in Fig. 5 during which operation the projection 38 is forced inwardly into the recess 4I) adjacent the sloping portion of the recess.' Whenjtheclosure is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction to remove the same pro- V jection 38 engages the inner surface of the skirt the skirt 26 and the collar ID. Continued rotation in a counter-clockwise direction is therefore resisted whereas on forcible rotation to remove the closure the skirt is expanded causing the same to be broken away below the threaded portion of the closure.

The construction shown in Fig. 7 differs from those previously described in that the recess 42 in which the locking member I8 is located is in alignment with the outer diameter of the thread. The closure is weakened by reducing the thickness thereof above or adjacent the locking member. be uniform throughout or may be smaller adjacent the lower portion thereof than throughout the upper, internally threadedY portion.V While the weakened portion may be a continuous groove located at or above the locking member I prefer to employ spaced strengthening elements 44 in a skirt which is thinner than the upper portion of the closure. In this way the skirt is caused to break in an irregular and therefore very apparent manner. The type of locking member and'` recess used may be any of those heretofore described or capable of functioning in a similar manner.

In each of the forms of my invention described rotation of the closure in removing the same The diameter of the closure may therefore causes the locking member-to be rotated with the closure so that it is moved out of the recess into an expanded position forcing the skirt outwardly until it is broken at the weakened portion leaving the upper'threaded portion of the closure uninjured. The desired effect is attained very readily when using closures formed of moulded plastic compositions and while this construction is preferred the closure may, if desired, be made of metal or of any other suitable materialcapable of being readily broken or permanently deformed in removing the closure.

While I have illustrated and described certain preferred forms of my invention it will of course be evident that numerous changes and modifications may be made in the-form and arrangementY of the element thereof. Therefore it should be understood that the forms of my invention herein disclosed have been-given by way of illustration and are not intended to limit the scope thereof.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. yThe combination comprising Va container having a circular neck threaded externally and formed-with a circumferential recess below the thread, a locking'member carried by the container normally located in said recess and slidable circumferentially of the container to an expanded position in which arportion thereof extends out of said recess, and a closure threaded internally engaging the Ythread on the neck of the container and formed with a skirt extending below said thread and about the locking member in said recess and closely adjacent said circular neck, said locking member and skirt having cooperating elements serving to move the locking member with the closure to said expanded position in which the locking member is wedged between said closure and a circular portion of the container to break said skirt outwardly upon rotation of the closure to remove the same.

2. The combination comprising acontainer' operating with anV outwardly extendingportionV of the neck at the end of said recess upon sliding movement of said member circumferentially of the container to expand the same and a closure threaded internally engaging the thread on the neck of the container and formed with a skirt extending below said thread and about the locking member in said recess and closely adjacent said circular neck, said locking member and skirt having cooperating elements serving to move the locking member with the closure to said expanded position in which the locking member is wedged between said closure and a circular portion of the neck of the container to break said skirt outwardly upon rotation of the closure to remove the same.

3. The combination comprising a container having a circular neck threaded externally and formed with a circumferential recess below the thread, a resilient locking member carried by the container and movable circumferentially of the container extending more than half Way about the circumference of said neck and normally retained in said recess by the resiliency thereof and a closure threaded internally engaging the thread on the neck of the container and formed with a skirt extending below said thread and about the locking member in said recess and closely adjacent said circular neck, said locking member and skirt having cooperating elements serving to move the locking member with the closure to said expanded position in which the locking member is wedged between said closeure and a circular portion of the neck of the container to break said skirt outwardly upon rotation of the closure to remove the same.

4. The combination comprising a container having a circular neck threaded externally and formed with a circumferential recess below the thread extending more than half way about the circumference of the neck, a resilient locking member carried by the container and movable circumferentially of the container located in said recess and extending more than half way about the neck and normally held therein by the resiliency of said member, the end of the locking member cooperating with an end of the recess on movement of the member to expand the same and a closure threaded internally engaging the thread on the neck of the container and formed with a skirt extending below said thread and about the locking member in said recess, said locking member and skirt having cooperating elements serving to move the locking member with the closure to said expanded position in which the locking member is wedged between said closure and a circular portion of the neck of the container to break said skirt outwardly upon rotation of the closure to remove the same.

5. In combination with a container having an external thread thereon, an internally threaded container closure of the cap type adapted to engage the external thread on the container and to normally completely cover the container opening, said closure having an integral peripheral skirt portion below the thread constituting an externally visible, readily breakable indicator, said skirt portion and container presenting surfaces dening a recess which is deeper in one part than in another and a normally concealed device positioned in said recess and located between said container and the skirt portion of the closure,'said device being movable into the deep part of said recess to a retracted position permitting free rotation of the closure on rotation thereof in applying the same to the container and being movable into the shallower part of said recess and into wedging relation with said skirt portion and container to break said skirt outwardly on rotation of the closure to remove the same from the container.

EUGENE JACOB. 

